adams



Dec. 29

.L--l-i.A ADAMS PROCESS 0F' GONVERTINGQHYDROCARBON OILS Original FiledDec. 5, 1917 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 i Y Y ed,

. 19a o o aan@ Dec.. 29

J H. ADAMS PROCESS 0F CONVERTING HYDROCARBON oILs original Filed Deo. 5,1917 4 sheets-'sheet 2 Dec. 29, E925.

PROCESS-0F GONVERTING HYDROCARHON OILS Original Filed Dec. 5, 1917 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 2599,*11925755;

J. H. ADAMS PROCESS 0F CONVERTING HYDROCARBON OILS 4 sheets-sheet doriginal Filed Dec. 5, 1917 mvamtoz Patented Mec, 29, 1.925,a

ld it "FFQEO JOSEPH E. ADAMS, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PROCESS OF. GONVERTENG HYDROCARBON OIL".

Original application led December 5, 1917, Serial No. 265,527.

Divided and. this application filed October 12, 1922.. Serial N0.593,953.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, Josnri-r H. ADAMS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of N ewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes ofConverting Hydrocarbon Oils, of which the :following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying` drawings, forming a partthereof.

My invention relates to a process of cracking oil and particularly to athermal and vapor pressure method of converting more or less refinedmineral hydrocarbon oils, such as gas oil into more volatile products,such as gasoline.

rFhe apparatus illustrated and hereinafter described, as adapted for usein carrying out the present process, was invented by me but is notherein claimed since it is a part of the subject matter claimed in myPatent No. 1,320,354 granted Oct. 28th, i919 on an application filedDec. 1st, 190).

The present application is a' continuation in part of the aforesaidpatent, since it is a division of my copending application 205,527, asit was originally filed on Deceniber 5, 1917, and which itself was acontinuation in part of the aforesaid patent at the time of its Vfilingbut which during its prosecution became a true division of the aforesaidpatent and matured as such into Patent ingame on October 24, i922.

One object of my invention is to provide a. cracking process for thepurpose above indicated whereby the oil or mixture of oils is subjectedto the powerful influence of an internally applied decomposingtemperature, while holding the oil anal its vapors undersuper-atmospheric pressure.

Another-object of my invention is to pro-- vide a process which shallcombine the advantages from the use of pressure, and avoid thedisadvantages incident to the application of heat to the exterior wallsof the cracking chamber in which oil under pressure is contained, thusobviating the baking or hardening of the carbon on the interior walls ofthe cracking chamber and avoiding great loss of heat resulting` from theincrustations on the interior surface, and the great danger of burningand weakening the walls which are subjected to tremendous strain by,reason of the pressure within.

Accordingly this invention contemplates cracking oii undersuper-atmospheric pressure which may be self-imposed by the generationof vapors during the cracking operation, through the direct applicationof cracking temperatures to the body of oil under treatment through theagency of a suitable internal heating device, that is immersed withinthe oil and in direct contact therewith, whereby the cracking heat iseffectively and locally applied to the oil. Preferably, the heatingdevice takes the form of an electric resistor of carbon, or othersuitable heat enduring material, which is submerged in a body of oilthat is advantageously retained within a receptacle of restrictedcross-section so that the oil therein, or passing therethrough, isnecessarily in intimate contact with the heater. The heavierconstituents of the evolved vapors are separated by condensation fromthose of desired lighter volatility and are returned or back-trapped tothe cracking Zone so that they are again subjected to cracking heat,whereby further conversion thereof takes place. The vapors of desiredvolatility are passed on and subsequently condensed and collected.Substantially the same superatmospheric pressure self-imposed by thegenerated vapors is maintained throughout the separation, and cyclicback-trapping, as well as the condensation and collection of the finaldistillate.

Other objects of the invention and features by means of which they areattained will become apparent from the following description of theprocess as exemplified in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is an elevation of a cracking apparatus adapted for practicingthe process# f of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of a converter which constitutes oneof the elements of the apparatus of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view, taken on the line lll-lll of Figure2.

Figure l is a view corresponding to Figure l of modified apparatus whichis also suitable for carrying out the process of my invent-ion.

Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 of another modified form ofconverter that may be employed,

Cil

Figures G and 'i' are respectively an elevation `andL a plan view of theelectricheater utilized in the converters of Figures 2, el, and drawn toa larger scale.

Figure S is a sectional plan'vie'w taken on the line VIII-VIII of Figure6, and

Figure 9 is a partiallysectional elevation ot' the heater of Figure 6.

In Figure l the containing vessel l, of" the supply apparatus A may besonie'what elevated with respect to the adjacent converter C, so thatthe gravitating tendency of the oil may A augment its `flow into theconverter under the influence ot the compressed air maintained over thesurface ot oil contained within the tank l, to cause its delivery intothe system against a super-atmospheric Avapor pressure maintainedoverthe surface of oil and inthe vapors while undergoing` conversion andcondensation in the converter and condenser.

A suitable traine 2 oit woodormetal may be utilized as a support tor thetank.

The Afluid oil may be admitted into the containing vessel or tank l, bymeans oi one or more suitable supply pipes indicated by 3, andcontrolled by valve d, and when admitting oil the displaced air mayescape through pipe 5, controlled by valve (i. This tank is providedwith glass sight gages 7, so that the oill level therein may beconstantly under observation.

A. pipe 9 connects the supply tankand converter C, in any desired mannerand in order to control the delivery oi oil into the con-- verter thevalve 'l0 is provided in the pipe line 9 tor this purpose,

Ars meansot (ilcawingv ott oil Vtroni the tank, the pipe ll'cont-rolledby valve l?, is provided below the `pipe fitting under the tank, and inorder to sumly compressed air to tank l., pipe 8, leading out from a T'fitting in'pipe 3, land controlled by valve S, leads to a compressor orsuitable supply ot compressed air, so that compression may be employedoverthe surface oit oil in tank l, to

cause its delivery into the converter against a. super-atmospheric vaporpressure mainH tained therein.

The converters C proiiosed for use in this invention nnty'assuniediverse terms, certain oit which are shown in the drawings, withoutundergoing :1n-essential dilliercnce incharacterA ordeparting Ytrom thespirit of the in vention.

The coiivci'tei'sliown in Figures l, 2 and 3 comprises a retort orfheating section 13, provided with a glass sightgage 14, and surmountedby kva cylindrical crown or dome l5, also provided with a glass sightgage 16.

`Preteiably, but not necessarily, thesupply pipe 9 in this formconnecting trom the supply tank l, will lead-'into the upper part bt t`rettili-t or section "i3, which section forms the lower part ol theconverter C.

"which may havev accumulated therein, and

the heavy residual oil may be withdrawn 'tromi time to` time during theoperation of the system.

The crown cylin'deril, is'se'cured tothe retort 13,' by means ofsuitable interposed iange members 20, which are screw threaded onto therespective parts and are bolted to each other.

Inasmuchjas the vapors rising into and tilling'the crown or dome l5exert high pressures, I have arranged a' cap 21, in close littingrelationwith the upper end ol" the cylinder crown or dome and haveutilized4 as a` means tor securely retaining the ca'p'in positi'on a'lnumber otstrong `steel bolts which hold this cap securely tothe top otthe dome. The lower section or' retort may be connected with theoverlying dome by means ot a gage coiumn 22, on whiclrglass sight gages"23 are arranged :.o that thc condition and disposition ot' the contentsoil. the converter C, may always be the more readily apparent andbesusceptible oil an intell'igei'it variz'ttion.

A l'eature of importance is the means loi internally applying li'eat tothe oil contained in the retort while held under a self-imposedsuper-atmospherie vaporlpressure ttor the purpose ot bringing about aconversion oilE such oil.

Pret'el'ably this feature is electrically operated and embodies anelectric heat-er 30 comprising one or morev resistance. rods, orresistors of carbon or other suitable material,

which are adapted to be maintained at a the resistance rods maybe variedto con- Yform to the voltage ot the source ot sup-Y ply, I haveillustrated a series coiniection,

which is suitable for ordinary working con ditions.

The electric energy is supplied to the heater by means 'of a metallicconductor rod 2li which passes through the cap 2i at the sunnnitof thedome 15, and in order to `Yprevent groin'iding or short circuit of thecurrent, an insulating bushing and grand .olf suitable, material,sueltas soapstoneoil long fibre asbestos composition, will be interposedin a tight iitting relation between the cap and the leading in conductorrod 2i.

So also, a leading out conductor rod may similarly pass through thebottom of the retort section 13, and the current for operation will besupplied from the mains 27 and 2S.

The conductors 2d and 26 project into the heating section 18 and theiradjacent ends are spaced apart to form a gap which, if desired, may bebridged or lilled in by a suitable insulating or non-conductinginterponent 29, as shown in Figs. 6, 8 and 9.

While a variety of materials are available from which this insulatinginterponent may be made, I prefer that it shall be formet of acomparatively hard and unyielding insulating material, such for exampleas soapstone or porcelain, so that the interponent may form a rigidconnection between the conductors 24 and 26 in order to prevent orobvia-te any undesirable looseness and lateral movements of the heaterand lend stability and strength to the structure.

lVhile this non-conducting interponent 29 may be connected to the spacedterminals 2d and 26 in different ways, that shown in Fig. 9 will befound simple and serviceable. This connection comprises an internallythreaded collar 29 in screw-threaded en `gagement with the end of theadjacent terminal and the corresponding` end of the insulatinginterponent.

ln my preferred form of grid or electric heater, the current passes intothe lirst resistance rod, that indi lated by (Fig. 9) through a link 3l,which is tightly secured to the terminal of the conductor 2l by means ofa clamp nut 32. The upper end of the resistance rod 30 is screw threadedto provide an engagement for the complementary clamp nuts and Thecurrent thus passes down through the, resistance rod 3W, then across thelink 35 (Fig. (i) up through the adjacent rod 36, across link 37 anddown the next resist-ance rod 38, until linally it passes out throughthe last link 9 and into the leading out conductor 26, to which the lastmentioned link is electrically connected by lock nut 32 in a similarmanner to that of the first link 3l.

By this arrangement, each of the rods 30, and 38, etc. will carry thesame current and, as they are constructed of material having likeresistanees, they will be evenly and equally heated. By suitable currentregulating devices (not shown), these rods may be maintained at anypredetermined temperature, even though submerged in the oil.

This internal electric heater or resistor constitutes a feature ofconsiderable importance in my invention by reason of the fact that inoperating upon certain classes of oil it is desirable to localize theapplication of internal heat, thereby tending to eliminate theevaporation of undue quantities of oil prior to their conversion by theaetion of the submerged electric heater.

To this end, l have provided a heat-insulating shell l0, as shown inFigs. 2 and 3, which shell provides a relatively restricted centerchannel or passage for the upward flow of the oil towards the electricheater SO. rlhis heat-insulating shell l0 rises above the level of theoil, as indicated in Fig. 2, and preferably has its upper end ll ininterlitting relation with the overlying eylin drical crown or dome l5.lts lower end, however, is either provided with apertures 4:2 for theinlow of the oil or it may be carried upon a suitable perforated supportrising from the bottom of the retort.

WYith this construction, it will be under stood that whenever the oil tobe converted is admitted into the retort and brought to the proper levelindicated by the ll, 16 and 23, it will assume the same level on theoutside of the insulating shell l0 as it will on the inside thereof. lnthis manner the electric heater 30 will be maintained in predeterminedsubmerged relation and the oil lost by evaporation in the overlying domewill be constantly and uniformly replaced by fresh quantities of oil tobe converted. The heater, therefore, will always be completely submergedand a constant oil level maintained above it.

ln order to insure that the electric heater brings about a localapplication of a very considerable degree of heat, it is in many casesdesirable to prevent the dissipation or spread of heat through a largebody ol` oil, inasmuch as such action would result in undue evaporationor distillation of oil without any appreciable alteration of itscharacter. The insulating shell il), being preferably constructed of acellular and laminated heat-insulating material, admirably serves as a.barrier to localize the heat where it is especially effective for thepurpose intended.

As the operation of the process proceeds, new quant-ities of original orfresh oil constantly tiow into the converter and rise past the heater tocompensate for that removed in the form of evolved vapors and xed gases.By meansvof the glass sight gage on the converter and gages column, thesurface level of the oil may be under constant observation and may thusbe held at a predetermined height. With the electric heater 30 inoperation, oil will be constantly flowing toward and into intimatecontact with the highly heated resistor, thereby becoming cracked andchanged into lighter or more volatile products.

It will be understood .that during the operation, the raw 0 1.lincnverted .oils will llO vpipe 113, and thence-through pipe i berelieved of more or-less of the carbon of ywhich they are in partcomposed. This of course alters their chemical character and convertsthem from one or more of the products of the hydrocarbon series intoothers of an essentially different character. The carbon which isremoved in this manner will be .in part deposited on the highly heatedresistor and in part precipitated in the ad jacent oil, being` to someextent heid in suspension and to some extent gravitated through the oiltoward the bottom of the converter. The heavy residual oil, containingthis gravitated carbon, may be with drawn as desired tl'irough the pipe'i7 and valve 1S.

Inasmuch as the precise degree of temperature at which the electricheater should be maintained in .practice `largely depends upon andvaries with partit cin'alitions, suoli as the composition of the raw oilto be converted, I may state that' the temperature will in practiceordinarily vary so that the resistor will have a high black temperatureor anincandescence from a low cherry red to a white'heat, according tothe oil being' treal ed.

l/Vhen operating in this manner, it has been observed that apparentlyonly a part of the oil comes in direct contact with the resistor for thereasonthat the conduction of heat is sufficient to evaporate a certainportion at a lower temperature than is requisite forthe crackingoperation. Accordingly,the-vapors passing into the dome will be composednot only of the oil which has been converted by the breaking up of itsmolecules during its exposure to the high heat, but also will contain acertain proportion of the volatili/red and uncracked original oil.

The mixed vapors of the original and the cracked oil are evolved veryrapidly, mving to the intense heat of the resistor' and consequentlycare should be exercised to -keep the oil level at the proper height andnot permit it to fall below or approach the top of the electric heater,for the resistorswould protrude above thelevel of the oil and unevenheat would result, the `upper or exposed. part of the resistors becominghottest whereV there is the greatest resistance tothe radiation 'ofheat.

The'mixed vapors pass from the dome or crown cylinder' l5 into a vapord' ...harge suitable condenser'll, of which cooline coils 445 arecontained within a 'tank and mounted ona suitable support Ai6, i..desired.

Since some of the vaporized originaloil imay tendto condense beforereaching the condensing apparatus 131,;1 prefer to conneet the vapordischargelnpe e3 with the "bottom of the retort 13 by means of the gageroluiimv 22 `and in. `this manner utilize the 'when gage column toenable the preliminarily condensed unconverted oil to `be readily passedthrough the retort again for further treatment.

I also prefer to provide a safety pop valve 17 mounted above thecondenser `E and inan elbow of the pipe 44, so as to relieve any suddenor excessive pressure above the predetermined vapor pressure at whichthe process is operating. I may also place in the vapor line 425-44, athermometer or pyrometer -iS so thatthe temperature of the convertedvapors passing over to the condenser may be observed.

After passing through the coil condensin apparatusl, the oil passesthrough pipe 5l) into a tank 1l-9 of a reservoir F. The upper part ofthis reservoir is provided with a gas vent pipe 51 controlled by aneedle valve and the lower partv provided with a liquid drauholl pipe53, controlled by valve fili. y

A sight gage 55 is located on the tank 1l-t) so that the surface levelof the oil may be noted and a pressure gage 56 is provided at the upperpart of the tank so that the vapor pressures -within the system can beunder constant observationl in order to make it possible for theoperator to be informed to lower fthe built up pressure by opening theneedle valve 52 of pipe 5l. A draw-oil" tap 57 is at the foot of thecondenser E for the purpose of taking samples of distillate from time totime during the operation of the process. Y

The use of the gas vent pipe 5l and valve 52, in conjunction `with theother features of my invention is of great importance, for tl'iereby Iam Venabled to regulate the prede termined vapor pressure in theapparatus and promote uniformity and certainty in the operation of theentire system from the source of supply through to the end of or beyond.the condenser.

As a means of regulating the temperature of the condenser coil 45 ofthecondenserE, I have provided a cold water inlet pipe 5S and an overflowpipe 59 for the discharge of the heated water ywhich acciunulates at thetop of the condenser tank, and as a means of observing the pressure inthe supply `tank 1,'I have provided a pressure gage G0 at the topthereof. A pressure gage 6l is also employed at the top of the crown ordrum l5 so that the pressure in the converter may be known, as well asat the discharge end in the tank F. When the apparatus is working undersz'itisfactory conditions, both gages :36 and (il should register thesame uniform pressure throughout the system from the valve l0 in pipe 9,through the condenser and :in the collecting apparatus F.

The above specifically described apparatus was employed. by me inconnection with the conversion of light oils, as kerosene, into napthasand gasolenes at high or cracking temperatures While the oil undergoingtreatment and the vapors being condensed were held at superatmosphericpressure,

Another and more commercially practical apparatus is shown in Fig. 4.This system comprises the various co-related parts shown and describedWith respect to Fig. 1, but in place of the use of con'ipressed airmaintained over the surface of the oil in supply tank 1, a pump 62 isprovided to withdraw oil therefrom and force it into a'converter Cthrough a preheater B against a back vapor pressure maintained in thepreheater B, converter C and running tank F. lnasmuch as it is desiredto conserve heat energy in this apparatus, the comparatively cold oilflowing through the pipe 9 is preferably caused to pass through the oilpreheater B and thus be raised in temperature before passing into theoil converting receptacle. This preheater may be of any suitable typebut preferably embodies a continuously rising coil 63 connected with theoutlet pipe 64 i which is located at the top so that any air bubbles mayreadily escape and not 'form air locks therein. The source of heat forsaid preheater may be the oil returning from the converter and hot oilreceivers at the opposite end of' the apparatus, or it may consist oli'any other suitable heat supplying means.

The converter in this type of apparatus comprises retort 13, anover-lying dome 15 and an under-lying chamber 65 for receiving the heavybottoms, carbon and other residues, such chamber being provided with adetachable plate 19. The residuuml may be drawn off through pipe 17 andvalve l18.

The means for admitting oil to the converting receptacle is shown aspipe 66 controlled by valve 67, and pipe 68 controlled by valve 69, andby this means oil may be delivered into the upper or lower part of theconverter as desired. This converting receptacle is convenientlysupported by suitable legs or supports 70 and, like the converter ofFig. 1, preferably comprises a number of sections bolted together toform fluid-tight connections. The heavy bottoms chamber 65 is formed bya pipe-like section having a bottom plate 19 provided With an insulatedbushing 71 tightly itted in central aperture therein. This bushing likebushing 25 at the upperl end of the retort, tightly encircles theconductor rod 26 and insulates the same from the metal of thereceptacle.

A suitable thermometer or pyrometer 7 2 may be arranged in permanentrelation With the retort 13 and another one 73 With dome 15 so that thetemperature of the oil contained therein may be kept under constantobservation.

As has been stated the branch line feed pipes 66 and 68 may enter theconverter as shovvn at the top and bottom, and also a branch line pipe74 having a valve 7 5 may connect such converter With a returnpipe 76 toenable a 'flow to take place as will be hereinafter described.

The vapor dome 15 comprises a drum like section having one inlet at 66for the oil coming Jfrom the supply tank 1 to the coil 63 of thepreheater B and pipe 64, and an outlet pipe 77 controlled by valve 78for overflow unconverted hot oil.

Since the process of conversion depends on subjecting oil or oily vaporsto very high temperatures considerably above their vapor-ization points,and since this evidently cannot be done Without volatilizing inunconverted form large quantities of such oil, it will be necessary tomaintain high selfgenerated vapor pressures Within the system and tore-treat such fractions as have escaped cracking by the heat of thesubmerged heater 30.

By arranging the electric heater in the manner described it is possibleto materially reduce the escape of unconverted oils, but it has beeni'ound that considerable quantities pass through the receptacle Withouthav- 'ing been atiected. Such oils, being comparatively heavy, may bereadily condensed or caught by properly arranged baille plates, and tothis end this invention 'proposes a structure or system of partsintervening between the converter and condenser for the convertedfractions and the unconverted oils which are to be collected andreturned for retreatment.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, a vapor trap 7 9 having a bailleplate 8() intercepts the vapors escaping from the upper part of dome 15and any heavy parts, not light enough to go through and out through pipe44, are led back into the converter through pipe 76.

The oily vapors and particles ot heavy oil from the converter pass outthrough pipe 43 and are projected against the plate 80 and this action,as in the steam trap, collects the heavy particles, condenses and throwsthem down in liquid form. Such vapors as have escaped condensation inthe trap 7 9 pass through pipe l44 to a suitable condenser E, capable ofcondensing all products which may have a liquid form at ordinarytemperatures.

The pop release valve 47 is provided in this form of apparatus and islocated over the condenser E in the pipe 44 to insure safety in case thepressure should exceed a pre-determined number of pounds to the squareinch, under which the apparatus is working normally.

This apparatus may be operated with the oil flow either `upwardly ordownwardly past `the electric heater as desired. Thus, when operatingwith aV downward ilowy of oil, valve 69 in pipe. 68 is closed, as wellas valve 78 in pipe 77. The incoming oil will then flow through pipe 66and valve G7 into the dome 15 and passing down through the retort 13past the electric heater, is led out through pipe 74e and valve 75 andthen rises through pipe 76 and lrom thence into tank 82 through pipe 81.

The hot oil overliow tank 82 is provided with a glass sight gage. 83 sothat the height of the oil therein may be known in order to indicatewhen the valve S5 in pipe 84 should be opened to draw oil' the hot oilinto the collectingapparatusl), oi which tank 3G is provided with glasssight gages 87. The oil may bei withdrawn from this collec"ing apparatusD bymeans of pipe 8S and pump 89, which latter will force oil throughpipe 90 pastcheck valve 91 and into supply Vtank 1 for retreatment withnew oil. The converted vapors will pass through the trap 79 and otherpartsfas described, the d'istillates and gases being` caught in therunning tank F located beyond the condenser.

In'caseit is desired to have the lilow upwardly. past the electricheater, valve 67 in )i ie. G6 andvalve 75 in ai 3e 74 will be closed,while the valve 69 in pipe GS and valve 78 in pipe 7,7,will lbe. opened.In this manner oilflowingthrough pipe 68 and up-l wardly through retort13, will overl'low through pipe V77 vinto tank 82 from which it is drawninto collecting apparatus D and returned to supplyQ tank l by means ofpump 89, as described. The vapors passing oli' through pipe 43, trap 79and condensing coils 45 are reduced-to distillates and col* lected asset forth.

InFig. 5 is illustrated another modified.

formof converter of very simple 'structure which differs somewhat fromthose already described. This type of converter` is not providedwithaheavy bottoms or residue chamber, and the electric heater 30 'islocated in the lower part .of the retort 13 and is positioned opposite asight glass 102, adjacent the lowerend ot' the converter. Thelowcrinletpipe 68 isdisposed adjacent and directly opposite the electricheater so that.

the incoming oil is projected` into contact with the heater; An outlet77 is provided in .the dome 15 so to carry oil any overthrough thecondensers and the running trap tanks located beyond the condenser-s.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. The process of converting hydrocarbon oils that comprises subjectingoil to direct contact with an electric resistor, immersed therein andheated electrically to a cracking temperature, and maintaining asuper-atmospheric pressure upon the oil under treatment.

2. The process of cracking hydrocarbon oils that comprises subjectingthe oil to direct contact with a carbon resistor immersed in the oil andheated electrically to a crackin temperature, while maintaining the oilunder super-atmospheric self-imposed vapor pressure, and condensing theevolved' vapors.

3. The process of [converting j hydrocarbon oils that comprisessubjecting the oil to dircct contact with an electric resistor immersedtherein and heated to. a cracking temperature by the passage of 'anelectric current, maintaining a regulated` super-atmospheric pressureupon said oil,and condensing the evolved vapors under substantially thesame super-atmospheric pressure.

4l. The process of converting liquid hydrocarbon oils that comprisesmaintaining a carbon resistor immersed in. the oil at a crackingtemperature by the. passage of an electric current, while maintainingaregulated super-atmospheric self-imposed vapor pressure, and condensingthe evolved vapors under substantially the same super-atmosphericself-imposed vapor pressure.

5. The. process of converting hydrocarbon oils that comprisessubjectingthe oilin a conlined receptacle of restricted cross-section toa cracking temperature developedv by an electric resistor immersed inthe oil and heated electricallyy by the passage of an electric current,while maintaining upon the oil sufficient superatmospheric vaporpressure to hold'it in liquid form during thc conversion process,removing the evolved vapors from the cracking. Zone, and eifectingacondensation thereof while maintaining substantially the samesuperatmospheric vapor' pressure thereon.

6. Tlieprocess of converting hydrocarbon oils that comprises subjectingthe oil locally to a cracking temperature developed-by an electricallyheated resistor immersed in the oil, while maintaining superatmosphericseli` imposed vapor pressure upon the., oil 'during conversion, removingthe. evolved vapors, condensing the heavier constituents thereof andreturning them to the action of the electric resistor for furthertreatment, removing and condensing the lighter. constituents of theevolved vapors, and maintaiir ing substantially the same self-imposedvapor pressure throughout the entire operation.

7. The process of converting hydrocarbon oils that comprises flowing astream ot liquid oil through a restricted passage and past anelectrically heated resistor disposed therein and immersed in the oilwhereby said oil is raised in transit to a cracking temperature by thelocal application ot cracking heat thereto, and maintaining a regulatedsuperatmospherie self-imposed vapor pressure upon the oil during theconversion process.

8. rThe process oit converting' hydrocarbon oils that comprises flowing`liquid oil through a restricted pa. tainingI an electricallyT heatedresistor maiutained at a cracking temperature, and thence into anenlarged chamber where the evolution of vapors takes place, removing`the evolved vapors, selectively separating` the heavier from the lighterconstituents thereo1, returningthe heavier constituents in cyclicpassage through the cracking zone, condensing,` and collecting thelighter constituents, and maintaining a superatmospherie self-imposedvapor pressure upon the oil throughout the entire process.

9. The process of converting` liquid hydrocarbon oils that comprisescontinuously flowing a stream or" liquid oil in a single passage througha cracking` Zone ot restricted crosssection and past an electricallyheated resistor disposed therein whereby the oil in transit is locallycracked in Contact with said resistor, delivering the oil into anenlarged chamber where vaporization takes place, separately removing`evolved vapors and liquid oil from said chamber, and maintainingsuperatmospheric vapor pressure upon the oil throughout its treatment.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 9th day ofOctober, 1,922.

JOSEPH H. ADAlVlS.

